James Caan exits movie over cookie controversy

[TJ Phaserman 2]

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - James Caan has left the political comedy "Nailed" after a dispute led him to storm off the set, and it all seems to have centred on a cookie.

 

The trouble started last Wednesday on the first of Caan's two days of shooting the role of a U.S. speaker of the house who chokes to death on a cookie. Director David O. Russell asked him to cough as he choked, but Caan argued that the character couldn't cough and choke to death at the same time.

 

Russell suggested that they shoot it both ways, but the veteran "Godfather" actor expressed distrust that his version would be considered and left the South Carolina set. A spokesman for Caan wouldn't confirm or deny the specifics of what happened but said with a laugh that there were creative differences and the departure was amicable.

 

Producer Douglas Wick said the discussion was "part of an ongoing creative conversation between the actor and director" and that Russell has behaved professionally throughout the shoot.

 

Caan's part is being recast. The shoot began April 15.

 

"Nailed" stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel, James Marsden, Catherine Keener, Tracy Morgan and Olivia Crocicchia in the tale of a woman who gets a nail lodged in her head and travels to Washington to fight for better health care.

 

Russell has a reputation for on-set battles. He had well-documented differences with George Clooney (in which the two came to blows on the set of "Three Kings") and Lily Tomlin (in heated verbal exchanges on the set of "I Heart Huckabees" as seen last year on YouTube).

[Kor37 9]

Caan is such a bonehead. He's getting paid to act, not think. If he wants so much creative control over such a bit part, perhaps he should just Produce,write,direct and star in his own movies.... :blink:

[Theunicornhunter 2]

I think Caan is right about choking and coughing - and people that know would pick that up.

[VaBeachGuy 12]

I think Caan is right about choking and coughing - and people that know would pick that up.

I agree, coughing is the body's way of preventing you from choking to death. If you're actually choking to death then you can't cough.

[Kor37 9]

There would definitely be coughing involved. He would swallow the cookie, the cookie would get stuck, he would cough in an attempt to dislodge the cookie and when that doesn't work, he would choke to death. I'm sure thats what the director was trying to convey.

[VaBeachGuy 12]

But if you're coughing then air is getting through, when someone is coughing in that situation they are definitely in trouble but "choking to death" means that no air can pass through and if no air can pass through then coughing would be impossible.

 

My niece, when she was 4 or 5 took a bite of my father's BLT. She took a HUGE bite then didn't bother trying to chew. She started choking (almost to death) and was unable to do anything. No breathing, no coughing. Nothing. Her face started turning blue and she was panicked trying to breathe, my mother had to stick her finger all the way down her throat to dig the sandwich out, but there was no coughing at all.

 

Of course I understand why the director wanted coughing, it's like the Enterprise making sound when flying in space. In space there would be no sound but it's not good TV to have silence. Same in the movie, you need some sort of action to get the point across.

 

It wouldn't be accurate to cough, but it would be more visual.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

Exactly - if any sound is coming - no choking. I can also understand actors not wanting to play so obviously make believe.

 

Kevin, that must have been a scary few moments for your parents

[Bethlehem 8]

So in a way they were both right. Then what we have is when ego's collide someone walks.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named 2]

I didn't even know Caan was still acting.